Sunday, 14 August 2022
Tuesday, 4 June 2019
What's happening at the Secret Valley?
The quick and easy answer to that question is – lots! But, no forest school at the moment….
The decision was made after the last sessions came to an end to focus on maintenance of the woodland. An ash tree with a rotten base was leaning at an angle across the Holloway and represented a real hazard for people, so getting this tree down safely was our first priority. Through the winter months I also focused on coppicing hazel, which has done wonders for biodiversity in the cleared areas and has since started to regenerate beautifully. There are currently two more trees that need to brought down safely – one fell in the storms earlier this year and is hanging on another tree close to an area where people camp, and there is a dead ash tree not far from the stone circle. We will need a tree surgeon to get them down safely.
Sam and I took a couple of months off from all forms of work to walk the Camino in Spain, eventually walking 560 miles in total. This turned out to be a profound experience for me, and as a result, on my return I made the decision to focus more on being at the Secret Valley to enjoy being there and connecting with the place rather than it just being a place of work. I manage to be in the woodlands about once a week on average, usually pottering around, sometimes doing some work but always with a flask of tea to make time to sit, drink and enjoy. A couple of weeks ago I had a wonderful time watching a spotted woodpecker parent bird flying to and from it’s nest in a hollowed out cherry tree feeding it’s young. The woodland is very beautiful this time of year.
The other woodland owners are still regularly organising and facilitating different group meetings in the woodlands. I miss running the forest school sessions, but I don’t miss all the organising involved. I still have all my forest school kit, so starting again at any time if I feel inspired is totally an option.
I started forest school as a volunteer in 2008 before going on to become a fully qualified forest school leader and it was what I did for 10 years. I’m very grateful for all the support I’ve received over the years, and I’ very grateful to all the children I’ve had the pleasure to work with. Hopefully I’ve been able to” plant some seeds” in their consciousness that will come to fruition sometime in the future. What the world needs is people who feel a connection and love for the outdoors and the natural world in particular, and hopefully from that will spring the determination to do what can be done to preserve our beautiful planet.
The decision was made after the last sessions came to an end to focus on maintenance of the woodland. An ash tree with a rotten base was leaning at an angle across the Holloway and represented a real hazard for people, so getting this tree down safely was our first priority. Through the winter months I also focused on coppicing hazel, which has done wonders for biodiversity in the cleared areas and has since started to regenerate beautifully. There are currently two more trees that need to brought down safely – one fell in the storms earlier this year and is hanging on another tree close to an area where people camp, and there is a dead ash tree not far from the stone circle. We will need a tree surgeon to get them down safely.
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| Kirsty working on rotten ash (propped on a hazel) |
Sam and I took a couple of months off from all forms of work to walk the Camino in Spain, eventually walking 560 miles in total. This turned out to be a profound experience for me, and as a result, on my return I made the decision to focus more on being at the Secret Valley to enjoy being there and connecting with the place rather than it just being a place of work. I manage to be in the woodlands about once a week on average, usually pottering around, sometimes doing some work but always with a flask of tea to make time to sit, drink and enjoy. A couple of weeks ago I had a wonderful time watching a spotted woodpecker parent bird flying to and from it’s nest in a hollowed out cherry tree feeding it’s young. The woodland is very beautiful this time of year.
The other woodland owners are still regularly organising and facilitating different group meetings in the woodlands. I miss running the forest school sessions, but I don’t miss all the organising involved. I still have all my forest school kit, so starting again at any time if I feel inspired is totally an option.
 |
| Celebrating six years of owning the Secret Valley, September 2018 |
I started forest school as a volunteer in 2008 before going on to become a fully qualified forest school leader and it was what I did for 10 years. I’m very grateful for all the support I’ve received over the years, and I’ very grateful to all the children I’ve had the pleasure to work with. Hopefully I’ve been able to” plant some seeds” in their consciousness that will come to fruition sometime in the future. What the world needs is people who feel a connection and love for the outdoors and the natural world in particular, and hopefully from that will spring the determination to do what can be done to preserve our beautiful planet.
Monday, 15 January 2018
Monday, 19 June 2017
New for the summer.......
Forest School for Parents
& Toddlers!
Led by qualified
forest school leader Kev Bull at the Secret Valley Woodland in Glastonbury
July
6th, 20th & 27th
August
3rd, 17th & 24th
Email Sam at secretvalleywoodland@gmail.com for further information
£8 per child per
session
Saturday, 13 May 2017
Forest School club remaining date + overnight camp........
Final date until the Autumn: 8th July 2017
Led by qualified forest school leaders Kev Bull & Ingrid Crawford & assisted by Pauline Plant
£10 per child per session
Overnight Camp!
11am Saturday 19th – 11am Sunday 20th
August 2017
For children aged 9 -12 years
£45 per child to include vegetarian meals
Booking essential - Email Sam at secretvalleywoodland@gmail.com for further information and to book a place
Easter at the Secret Valley
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| Making a rope bridge.... |
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| Preparing a biscuit tin for charcoal making |
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| Making pencils using elder & charcoal |
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| Using the pencils to decorate eggs |
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